Kevin Garside is the Daily Telegraph's golf correspondent.

British Grand Prix struggles to stay afloat

Felipe Massa goes three tenths quicker than Heikki Kovalainen on the first day of testing at Silverstone. A country mile at a country fare, Mr E might say.

The performance of Ferrari in Magny-Cours and at Silverstone yesterday suggests that McLaren may have to wait until the meandering, twisting Hungaroring before they are back at the races. The German Grand Prix at Hockenheim is next up after Silverstone, another quick circuit suited to the red machine.

We shall see what the next two days bring but the tea leaves are not looking good for Lewis. Great to see the old place full of punters. The whole three-day test is sold out, as are all three days of the grand prix.

What would Malaysia, China and Bahrain, three of the circuits on the front line of Bernie's global F1 expansion, give for a response like that. And the old airfield looks certain to slip off the calendar after next year's race.

Unlike the aforementioned tracks, there is no state funding to keep the British Grand Prix afloat. The government is not in the same need of a flagship sporting event to confer first world status on the nation.

The emergence of subsidised races has sent the market rate for grands prix through the roof. Unfortunately there is no sub-prime crisis to force a correction. The owners of Silverstone, the British Racing Drivers Club, must find Â£11 million a year just to host the race from 2010, not to mention the cost of redevelopment.

Forget Donington. That is never going to happen. The circuit is even further removed than Silverstone from the requisite blueprint to host a grand prix. Brands Hatch is in the same boat. If this were Brazil, both would suffice, but then the British Grand Prix issue was never about facilities. If the money is in Bernie's bank the race will go on. Simple as that.